Abbou told the news conference on Monday: “Two days ago we presented the resignation of our ministers, but we were contacted yesterday evening by the leaders of Ennahda, who replied favourably to all our demands.”

Meanwhile, several hundred opposition supporters, including Mr Belaid's wife, Besma, continued protesting outside the Constituent Assembly in Tunis on Monday.

"They must go, all of them, including the prime minister. The game is over," she told Reuters news agency.

"If they stay, one fears to see other assassinations in this climate of fear and violence," she said.